[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]'s defeats away to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and at home to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] have cost Arsene Wenger’s side the Premier League title, but both losses could have been prevented had the manager acted positively in January.

Rumours abound that the Frenchman came close to pulling off three deadline day deals but ultimately failed.

This reluctance to splash the cash on a world-class striker and goalkeeper has condemned the Gunners to third place at best in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea’s 2-0 victory was largely down to two players: Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. These are precisely the two types of players that the north Londoners are desperately lacking: a killer striker and a safe pair of hands in goal.

As long as Arsenal continue to play Arshavin upfront they will be unable to break down the very best defences. And for as long as they play Almunia in between the sticks they will continue to concede more than they can score.

In the absence of the injury-plagued Robin van Persie, Wenger has attempted to plug the gap up front with players such as Arshavin, Fabregas and Nasri.

All are undeniably talented players, but none are actually centre-forwards. As Arsenal pile more and more players forward in search of the all elusive goals, they have become ever more vulnerable to the counterattack.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have exploited this weakness effectively. It’s no coincidence that Drogba’s second was, in many ways, a carbon copy of Rooney’s break-away goal on Sunday.

If Wenger had bought a physical, goalscoring forward such as Dzeko, Huntelaar or Chamakh – even if only on loan for the likes of Huntelaar – then Arsenal would have that plan B they require when the intricate passing game is not working.

Nicklas Bendtner is that kind of player when he is fit. But crucially for Arsenal’s season, he isn’t fit right now, which is why reinforcements were so essential in January for this crunch run of February fixtures.

In goal, the need for new blood has long been clear. Almunia has never looked more shaky and the manager clearly doesn’t trust Fabianski or Mannone for the big games. The news that Wenger attempted to buy Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen on deadline day won't have done the Spaniard’s confidence any favours, either.

Had the Arsenal boss managed to pull off those deals then Gunners fans might have been celebrating tonight, but instead, they’ll be drowning their sorrows - providing they're prepared to spend a little more freely than their manager, of course.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]'s defeats away to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and at home to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] have cost Arsene Wenger’s side the Premier League title, but both losses could have been prevented had the manager acted positively in January.

Rumours abound that the Frenchman came close to pulling off three deadline day deals but ultimately failed.

This reluctance to splash the cash on a world-class striker and goalkeeper has condemned the Gunners to third place at best in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea’s 2-0 victory was largely down to two players: Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. These are precisely the two types of players that the north Londoners are desperately lacking: a killer striker and a safe pair of hands in goal.

As long as Arsenal continue to play Arshavin upfront they will be unable to break down the very best defences. And for as long as they play Almunia in between the sticks they will continue to concede more than they can score.

In the absence of the injury-plagued Robin van Persie, Wenger has attempted to plug the gap up front with players such as Arshavin, Fabregas and Nasri.

All are undeniably talented players, but none are actually centre-forwards. As Arsenal pile more and more players forward in search of the all elusive goals, they have become ever more vulnerable to the counterattack.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have exploited this weakness effectively. It’s no coincidence that Drogba’s second was, in many ways, a carbon copy of Rooney’s break-away goal on Sunday.

If Wenger had bought a physical, goalscoring forward such as Dzeko, Huntelaar or Chamakh – even if only on loan for the likes of Huntelaar – then Arsenal would have that plan B they require when the intricate passing game is not working.

Nicklas Bendtner is that kind of player when he is fit. But crucially for Arsenal’s season, he isn’t fit right now, which is why reinforcements were so essential in January for this crunch run of February fixtures.

In goal, the need for new blood has long been clear. Almunia has never looked more shaky and the manager clearly doesn’t trust Fabianski or Mannone for the big games. The news that Wenger attempted to buy Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen on deadline day won't have done the Spaniard’s confidence any favours, either.

Had the Arsenal boss managed to pull off those deals then Gunners fans might have been celebrating tonight, but instead, they’ll be drowning their sorrows - providing they're prepared to spend a little more freely than their manager, of course.